Summary: Representing Parts of a Whole as Fractions

Key Concepts

  • Property of One
    • Any number, except zero, divided by itself is one.   aa=1 , where a0
  • Mixed Numbers
    • A mixed number consists of a whole number a and a fraction bc where c0
    • It is written as follows: abcc0
  • Proper and Improper Fractions
    • The fraction ab is a proper fraction if [latex]a
  • Convert an improper fraction to a mixed number.
    1. Divide the denominator into the numerator.
    2. Identify the quotient, remainder, and divisor.
    3. Write the mixed number as quotient remainderdivisor
  • Convert a mixed number to an improper fraction.
    1. Multiply the whole number by the denominator.
    2. Add the numerator to the product found in Step 1.
    3. Write the final sum over the original denominator.
  • Equivalent Fractions Property
    • If a,b, and c are numbers where b0 , c0 , then ab=acbc

Glossary

equivalent fractions
Equivalent fractions are two or more fractions that have the same value.
fraction
A fraction is written ab . in a fraction, a is the numerator and b is the denominator. A fraction represents parts of a whole. The denominator b is the number of equal parts the whole has been divided into, and the numerator a indicates how many parts are included.
mixed number
A mixed number contains